Order Of St George probably put paid to a Melbourne Cup trip with a dominant performance in Sunday's Group I Irish St Leger (1m6f) at The Curragh.
Ryan Moore ensured the race was a proper test by pressing on as the field turned for home with four furlongs to run and the result was never in doubt, Order Of St George (2/5 fav) sailing home by nine lengths ahead of Torcedor (14/1), who had beaten Order Of St George in last year's Irish St Leger and in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan in April.
Melbourne Cup entry Wicklow Brave (11/1) was last early, challenged under pressure to get to second two furlongs out before weakening into fourth behind Mount Moriah (14/1).
Order Of St George was equal topweight for the 2016 Melbourne Cup with 58kg and weights for the 2017 running will be announced on Tuesday, connections signalling another tilt at Europe's premier middle distance race may take precedence over the 3200m handicap.
Relentless! Order Of St George wins the 2017 Comer Group International Irish St Leger! pic.twitter.com/oniUHZyJFl
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 10, 2017
Aidan O'Brien trains Order Of St George for the Coolmore partners and Lloyd Williams and the trainer told the Racing Post a decision on the next race for the five-year-old would be made soon.
"Ryan kept it simple and it was a very good effort by the horse. We're delighted. We knew he'd handle the soft ground and that he had the class to deliver a performance like that," O'Brien said.
"Now we have a decision to make and it will be made quite soon. We'll think about the Melbourne Cup but we could be tempted by sending him back for another tilt at the Arc, in which he ran so well when third last year.
"He showed at Chantilly last year that he is very comfortable over a mile and a half if there is ease in the ground."
Order Of St George won the Irish St Leger by 11 lengths in 2015 and has now won 10 of his 20 starts.
CrownBet rates Order Of St George a $17 chance for the 2017 Melbourne Cup.
